This is an FF port of my story on AO3, where my OC Blueberry the Slime Girl messes with the events of MGQ to hopefully steer this towards an even happier ending without certain bullshit femdom tropes getting in the way.

please be sure to comment what you think, I'll be porting the story one chapter a day until it's caught up to the AO3 version, and then all chapters after that will be posted here one day after they're posted to AO3.

-{Chapter 1: Brand Blue Beginnings}-

I open up my eyes, my mind awash with energy and excitement, and why wouldn't it be? It was a very momentous day, one I had been excited for ever since my time in the village began.

Baptism day! The day I would officially become a hero! The dream of Ilias I received only worked to bolster my enthusiasm and resolve! Soon I'd go on my journey and achieve my dream of coexistence between Humans and Monsters!

Although after a moment, something seemed… off… was the village always this quiet?

Since I was striving to be a hero anyway, it wouldn't do not to at least see what was going on and help. I strode out of the house, equipment ready, to begin my first act of heroism!

What greeted me was an almost empty street, the rest of the townspeople all hiding in their homes, with some boarding up windows. The reason why sat directly in the centre of the village, a slime girl. She was the first monster girl I ever encountered, and the legends of their beauty had not been exaggerated. Her body was a light shade of blue that still gave way to details and textures, with a smooth, heart-shaped face and curvaceous form. Three things stood out to me immediately; the first being that her form, unlike the dripping, gooey mess commonly depicted in books, looked reasonably stable, albeit with a bit more bounce and flexibility compared to a human. The second thing I noticed was also a glaring inconsistency with the book, a strange dark blue sphere was lazily floating within her body, looking to be made of some sort of crystal…

The third thing I had noticed the most out of all the others was that she was sitting behind a small kiosk made of scrap-wood, like a child's lemonade stand, with several cups of a similar blue jello substance, and looked just about ready to bawl her eyes out.

While I would never forgive myself for seeing someone in front of me cry and do nothing about it, she was still a monster, and had been scaring the people in the village. I decided to approach cautiously, my hand ready to pull out my sword should she decide to attack. "Hello?" I tentatively called out, drawing her attention to me on the opposite side of her counter.

"*gasp!* …new friend!" she seemed to excitedly whisper before she flinched away from me timidly. The only part of her that actually moved closer was her hands as she presented to me one of the strange dessert cups she was 'selling'. "B… Blueberry Cup…?"

While the cup of what appeared to be Jello certainly seemed welcoming, I was hesitant to just readily accept food a random stranger offers me when I don't know what they've put in it. Even then, since she seemed to be 'selling' these treats, I could only guess what the price would be, and that said price would certainly be against one of Ilias' commandments.

"Thanks but I… already had breakfast," I said, not the best excuse, but definitely not a lie.

Unfortunately it didn't seem to be the right answer as the slime girl's lip quivered and then she burst into almost dramatic waterfalls of tears. "BLUEBERRY IS TERRIBLE BUSINESS PRACTITIONER!" she yelled out, causing me to flinch away while she slammed her head into the wooden counter. "Blueberry has no basic grasp of marketing—*gasp*—or economics! Blueberry only good for menial labour in dingy convenience store! Blueberry gonna go bankrupt and spend rest of her days—*sniffle*—in cardboard box propositioning ugly dirty men for spare change! Waaaaaahhhhhh!"

"Okay! Okay! I'll try one!" I yell out in a panic, not emotionally prepared for the sorrowful outburst of a cute girl, monster or not. In that moment, the only thing I had on my mind was to comfort the person in front of me and show they weren't as terrible as they believed.

It was only when I had taken the treat from her still outstretched arms and bit into it to show I was honouring my claim, did it occur to me that I had just indebted myself to a monster, without even learning what her price would even be for the dessert. The good news was that the 'Blueberry Cup' was deliciously apt in its name, and even seemed to make me feel even fresher and more energised, so at least it wasn't poisoned.

The slime girl looked up from her sobbing to see me eating her offered dessert, and began to cheer up quickly. "You… you really like it?" she asked, and I couldn't help but nod, since I was indeed finding it to taste very nice. "Yay! Blueberry isn't failure! You make Blueberry feel better, so you get half-price."

I unconsciously gulped at the mention of 'payment', although the statement caught me off guard.

If she's going for what I think, how would half-price even work? Would she offer half a blowjob? I found myself blushing at the thought before shaking my head and pushing away the invasive thought. Focus Luka! Remember Ilias' commandments, I shouldn't even be thinking about having sex with a monster!

Unfortunately, my brief moment of distraction allowed her to approach without me offering up any resistance. As my arms found themselves held tight to my sides by the impressively strong slime's grip, I feared that my journey was over before it even began and I would be milked right here in the middle of town. Thankfully it didn't seem my fears would be realised.

I was pulled to the Slime's—I assume her name to be Blueberry—body, and pressed close into what I assume was a hug. I didn't experience any sort of sexual pleasure from her shapely form rubbing against mine like I heard from the various travellers and heroes I had spoken to, if anything it was more comforting. Her body was pleasantly warm, and while her mass seemed to have more give than any human would, it was still a solid sensation wrapped around me, and not any potential mess that I'd need to spend rigorous time scrubbing off later.

The best I could equate it to would be it felt like I was being hugged by a warm blanket, and the gentle way she rocked me in her arms only made it harder to even resist the relaxing embrace. The soft caresses and massages her many grasping tendrils gave to my back and shoulders only served further to make me fall into the bliss of her hold.

When she finally released me unmolested, it had felt like hours had passed by when it had only been a minute. Funnily enough, I had still experienced one thing I had expected at the end of this; although she never even got near my penis, I found myself falling to my knees as the muscles in my legs, my whole body really, had become too relaxed to keep standing.

Without thinking, I tried to speak the first thing I had on my mind in my vulnerable state. "You're… you're not gonna rape me…?"

"Eh? Why would Blueberry rape cute friend?"

"Don't you need semen?"

"...no?! But if you got meat or fruit, Blueberry like that… ooh! Or sweets, cute friend have sweets?!" she said, leaning down to look me in the face as her eyes practically sparkled.

Adorable… my brain in my relaxed state thought unbidden. Thankfully my bliss-induced paralysis was quick to end and I managed to get to my feet before answering. "It's Luka. And I don't have anything on me right now, but once I get back from the temple, I can make something for you at my home." I pointed to the house in question. "But can I ask you not to scare the villagers?"

"Blueberry no mean to! I just walked into town and everyone just ran away!" she then slumped in on herself in a dejected heap. "Nobody want be Blueberry friend…"

"Well…" I began hesitating only for the briefest moment. "I'd like to be your friend."

That was most definitely the right thing to say, which was unfortunate for me as I had just got out of the incredibly wonderful effects of her first hug, and now, I was about to be quickly introduced to a second one that was no less intense in its affection and comfort.

However such an embrace never came, as the sound of a loud and hard crash echoed out from the nearby forest. While I had shamefully found myself partially upset at the interruption, my rational mind was more relieved and concerned at the situation. If something crashed down in the forest, it was possible that someone could've been hurt at the impact site. As a hero, it was my duty to go there and investigate, and if possible, help out whoever was injured.

Blueberry, seeming to have a similar desire to help, followed along, her movements seeming to be akin to sliding across the ground frictionless. All she had to do was lean forward and she was keeping up with my running speed. The only indication any movement was happening was the slick blue trail that seemed to be spraying out from under her blob-like lower body.

With her mysterious method of movement, we both arrived at the impact crater at around the same time to see the cause. My eyes widened at the sight before us, a woman I couldn't help but consider beautiful laid unconscious in the dirt below. She was a kind of Lamia with blue skin and long silver hair. Flowers seemed to decorate the left side of her head, which made me take notice of the eye-like pattern on her hair around her forehead. Speaking of patterns, intricate markings decorated the left side of her body and her face, though it was hard to tell if those markings were natural or simply tattoos, since they also seemed to only end part way down her scale covered tail, around her hips. It took a moment to recover and stop staring at the girl before me, which I kicked myself for considering she was potentially injured.

If I leave her, she's defenseless, but if I help her, I might be late for the baptism… wait, what am I thinking? I have someone here to help her while I go to the temple!

"Hey Blueberry, could you—" was about as far as I got as I looked to my right, where the slime was only a moment ago, but now seemed to have disappeared. "Blueberry?"

"Mmnh~..." I heard a soft groan, immediately snapping my attention to the Lamia, thinking she was waking up.

"Oooohh~, heehee! Squish~. Squish~. Squish~!" nope, instead, it was my new slime friend sat at her side, poking at one of her breasts.

Nevermind! I can't trust her to be alone if she's like this!

"Blueberry!" I yell out as I drop into the crater. "You can't just go around poking someone in the boob!"

"But Luky! It's so squishable!" she cheers quietly, giving the round and perky flesh another poke and I had to pry my eyes away from how those soft looking globes seemed to give slightly under her touch. "Come on, don't you wanna touch them, it's so fun!"

"I-I don't want to touch an unconscious woman's breasts! That's wrong!" I argue firmly, despite my treacherous mind imagining how they would feel in my hands, how they looked soft enough to partially engulf my fingers if I squeezed. My face burned and I had to make a concerted effort to drive away those taboo thoughts.

"Well she's awake now, so is it okay to touch 'em?"

"Huh?!" I snap my head back around, finding the monster girl to now be fully awake, eyes wide open and glaring at the slime girl that was still poking her chest.

I would've tried to say something, but honestly the way she was looking at the slime made it feel like even breathing was pushing it, so I froze. Sadly, that left me frozen staring a head at Blueberry still messing with those… amazing breasts.

"...what… do you think you're doing?" the lamia asked coldly, all her focus on Blueberry, and all I could do was pray to Ilias that no-one would die this day.

The slime didn't seem to be aware of the dangerous gaze on her as she calmly answered. "Squishing your boobs, it's very fun."

Her eye seemed to twitch before she growled out a response. "Well stop."

"Why? Does it not feel good?"

"No, it's annoying."

"Oh! I'm sorry! Is this better?"

"Is wha—Ahhhn~!" was about all she managed as Blueberry thrust her arm forward, slipping her shapeshifting hand underneath what little armour covered her upper body. The mass washed over the supple blue flesh before it began to undulate and gyrate slowly, needing her bare breast beneath her clothes, and no doubt teasing the nipple underneath. The unexpected surprise attack caught her off guard, causing her to let loose an involuntary and quite undignified moan.

I could already tell it was going to get bad, and so shaking out of my stupor, I rushed to get Blueberry to stop molesting the lamia who we had come to help.

Sure enough it did get bad, and the groped monster furiously elbowed the slime latched to her. The result of the rather powerful strike surprised the both of us, as instead of the head coming off and her splattering across the forest floor, her skin appeared to become more firm rubbery, and she was flung away entirely. The launched slime then tumbled over herself before landing back-first into a tree with great force.

"...Blueberry is okay!" *CRASH!* "...Blueberry is less okay!" she called out from under the now toppled tree.

"That's Pervert One dealt with," the monster said before her gaze snapped to me and I found myself paralysed once more. "Where am I?"

"Uh… you're c-close to I-Ilias Village."

Her eyes began to narrow, and my mind couldn't help drawing attention to how she still looked beautiful while she looked so dangerous. "I have a hard time believing I'm anywhere near one of the most devout places of that insufferable goddess when you have a monster with you and you haven't attacked her."

"Why would worshipping a goddess make people not like monsters?" a voice directly to my right suddenly asked.

"GAH!" I yelped in surprise, rather embarrassingly landing on my butt as I found Blueberry standing there, looking completely unharmed. "Wha—how?! Didn't you have a tree fall on you?"

"Uh-huh, Blueberry fine though, Blueberry's core didn't get hit."

"Core?" the lamia interrupted, moving closer to inspect the complete unharmed slime. "Slimes don't have cores, and they're not as solid as you either. What are you?"

"Blueberry is slime!"

"You are lying, stop it!"

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

"AM NOT!"

Am… am I looking at two monsters or two children?! I couldn't help but think. Is this what I'll be seeing from all monsters when I head out as a He—

Oh no! The Baptism! I'm going to be late!

With my goal in mind, I quickly turned and headed off out of the forest back to town. "W-well, it seems that you're fine, so I'll just be heading off to the temple now—ACK!" I groan out suddenly as I feel the monster's tail suddenly grab me by my mid-section and pull me back.

"Oh no! I'm not done talking to you yet!"

"Hey! Don't leave now Luky! Contribute to the conversation!"

"Why is that the one thing you two agree on?!" I blurted out in my panic.

"...Luky?" the lamia blinked, looking at me incredulously but also with some… mirth?

Oh no…

"I-it's Luka, actually—"

"No, it's official, you're Luky now."

Oh COME ON!

"So, Luky, it seems you were telling the truth, if you happen to be heading to the temple." she then looked me over, a soft inhale of her nose close by. "Definitely unbaptised, you smell delicious."

I might've been concerned at being in the grip of a monster girl after she had just claimed me delicious, if it weren't for Blueberry rushing to my defense. She grabbed my sword, scabbard and all, and proceeded to start poking the lamia in the face with it.

"No! Bad! No eating Blueberry's friend!"

"Hey! Cut it out! I'm not going to—would you just—*Stab*—AGH! MY EYE!" the lamia cried out as one particularly adventurous poke landed a critical blow. Angered, she grabbed the sword and quite strongly ripped it from Blueberry's grip.

"Eating people is bad! Eat Blueberry instead!" she yelled out once she had gotten my captor's attention, leaving the both of us dumbfounded even as the slime presented an arm as an offering.

The lamia looked just about ready to snap and refuse the offer, but then she blinked and sniffed at the arm. Once she seemed to catch the scent, I had to watch in horror as she casually took the offered arm and bit off Blueberry's fingers like they were baby carrots.

The horror gave way to confusion as Blueberry simply began giggling in response, only becoming louder as the now happy lamia continued working her way down the arm. "C-careful! B-Blueberry is—teehee—t-t-tickliiish! Heeheeheehee!"

The lamia calmly pulled back after stopping her nibbling at Blueberry's elbow, both of us watching in fascination as the arm regenerated at the same pace, almost as if she hadn't swallowed a drop.

"Wonderful, I don't even feel the light headache I had from my fall."

"Blueberry is very nutritious and refreshing!"

"Yes you are~." she replied, licking her lips in a way that made me involuntarily shudder.

Her serene expression quickly faded to a serious glare as she turned to me, holding up my sword. "As for you… why didn't you kill me?"

"Huh?" I mutter out dumbly.

"You were heading to the temple to be baptised, yes? so you want to be a Hero. Why didn't you kill me while I was unconscious? I'm sure that would've been quite an achievement under Ilias' eyes."

Although I was a bit surprised by this, I was definitely ready to answer this question. "You were unconscious or hurt, and I didn't know if you were good or bad, killing you wouldn't be right."

"Hmm… well, I would ask whether or not you see all monsters as an enemy, but…" she spared a glance at the slime girl, who had decided to spend her time admiring the lamia's scales "I think your situation speaks for itself. The question then is: why would someone who doesn't see monsters as an enemy, decide to be a Hero, whose goal is to kill the Monster Lord?"

"That might be another Hero's goal, but it's not mine." I stated calmly, finding myself more relaxed as we just talked and she didn't seem intent on raping or eating me. "Many people have their opinions on the matter, but I personally don't hate the Monster Lord. What I really want to do as a Hero is to just stop her from doing evil things."

"...what?" was the best the monster girl got out, but Blueberry seemed to be more articulate.

"How do you know the Monster Lord is being the bad lady?"

"I don't know for certain, but what I do know is that I want humans and monsters to coexist. If I become a hero, I can work towards that goal easy, and if I have to beat the Monster Lord to get humans and monsters to get along to do it, I will."

I found myself feeling a small hint of pride as I watched the slime let out a small gasp of awe as her expression slowly transitioned from confusion to admiration, staring at me like I was already the legendary Hero I was striving to become.

"...you're an idiot."

"Guh…" the lamia's words cut through me unprepared, I felt like I would've felt less pain if she had actually stabbed me.

Funnily enough, Blueberry seemed even more offended than I was. "Meanie! Blueberry think coexistence is nice! How is that stupid?!"

"The idea that everyone can just hold hands and live in harmony is an immature and short-sighted world-view that can only come from the mind of a child, why wouldn't I call that idiotic?"

I found myself having trouble really arguing back, but the Slime Girl seemed to have a much better response than even I could think of, although even then I wouldn't have been brave enough to say it.

"If you think it's so stupid, why not just 'rape' Luky like he said monsters do to humans and be done with it? Why just sit and talk with someone you think you shouldn't 'coexist' with?"

The lamia angrily glared at the slime, before having that gaze fall on me. I froze up in panic, worried she would consider actually violating me in order to prove her point. Thankfully she merely looked away with a scoff before releasing me from her coils and disappearing down one of the paths in the forest.

Blueberry looked ready to look me over for any injuries, but I quickly got to my feet and rushed. "Sorry Blueberry! I need to get to the temple! I'll see you in town, okay?!" I called out, but didn't wait for an answer.

-(/O O\)-

Sadly, it seems luck was not on my side any more than time had been. I arrived at the temple only to find that Ilias was no longer there, if she even was at all, leaving me unable to be baptised and made an official hero. Tired and dejected, I staggered back home, expecting the villagers to be back to hiding since Blueberry would most likely be outside waiting for me.

Strangely enough, Blueberry seemed to be nowhere in sight, the people walking around as if it was any other day. I was worried, had she gotten lost or something? I would hate for a cute and innocent slime like her to be left out in the wilderness all alone. The good news was that she was actually fine, and had been inside my house when I walked in.

The lamia I had met earlier happened to be there too, chewing on Blueberry's hair, which had shifted to resemble ropes of licorice. "Hi Luky!"

"Wha—I—How did you find my house?" I asked in surprise.

"Oh, Blueberry just—"

"No, not you, I told you where my house is. I mean the monster girl eating your hair."

"Oh, Allie here just sniffed out your house since it has your smell everywhere."

The lamia froze up mid-bite as soon as Blueberry uttered her nickname, and I couldn't help but find a little amusement as I asked. "...Allie?"

"My name is Alipheese Fateburn the sixteenth." she said coldly that I was almost certain her breath could turn the slime in her arms to ice. "You will refer to me as such or Alice, call me 'Allie' and you die."

"Then don't call me 'Luky' either."

"...fine, the nickname was childish anyway." Alice conceded, her words causing Blueberry to pout adorably.

"So why are you here?"

"Just curious… I want to confirm something with you."

That was interesting, back at the impact sight she was more cold and standoffish. Now she seems far more relaxed, although I could only imagine it's because Blueberry has been very hospitable to her. "Well, sorry, you can't stay here for long. I know I told Blueberry I'd make her some food, since she doesn't eat semen—"

"Wow, you're a bigger idiot than I thought." she said with an almost disappointed expression. "All monsters need to eat semen or they suffer for it. Just because she didn't ask for some when you first met doesn't mean she doesn't eat it. She probably went and milked some poor other human before you even met her."

"Nuh-uh!" Blueberry exclaimed. "Blueberry no need semen! Blueberry is unspoiled virgin flower for 22 years!"

Alice stared at the slime girl in utter disbelief, like she was witnessing something that was against the laws of physics… although technically that might be what she is witnessing, from what she said.

"Okay, what the fuck even are you?!" she exclaimed, making me wince. I had not known Alice long, but it felt like it was very uncharacteristic of her to curse.

"Told you! Blueberry is Slime!"

"And I told you! Stop lying!" Before Blueberry could argue further, Alice emitted a light from her eyes directly into hers. Immediately Blueberry ceased any form of struggle and just slumped there, staring directly at her. "Now tell me the truth, what are you?"

"I am a Slime, specifically a Blue Slime." she said in a monotone, causing me to shudder out how calm she sounded, it was almost wrong. "Many of my species are denoted by either their colour or their properties. There's a species of Yellow Slime that evolved from an affinity with tropical fruits like bananas, and a species of equally hued Electric Slimes, that came into being when a slime survived a strike of lightning. We adapt quickly to our environments and those adaptations result in new variants."

As she was speaking, I saw strange shadows creeping over her form. I shook it off as a trick of the light, as there were no thorned vines in my house or by the windows.

"You still lie? I have never known the concept of an Electric Slime, and I should know."

"Of course not, they exist in my original world, not yours."

That got both our attention. "Wait, your original world? Explain! What world do you—"

And that was about as far as she got. Those shadows from before? They were no trick, as suddenly a glowing, poisonous green aura in the form of an interlacing barrier of thorn-covered vines and stems burst forth protectively around Blueberry. The sudden burst of energy pushed back Alice a little, but her wide-eyed gaze seemed to be not on the aura, but of something behind and above the still dazed slime, something I couldn't see, but definitely left her concerned. Unlike its quick emergence, the vines and energy slowly pulled back in an almost warning way, and when they did, Blueberry looked to be back to normal as if nothing happened.

"What was that?" Alice breathed out in worry.

"What was what?"

"That! You looked like you had a damned goddess looking over your shoulder!"

"...Blueberry has goddess?" the slime said, trying to see if there was anyone looking over my shoulder… I just happened to be standing there. "Luky isn't goddess, Allie. Luky is a boy!"

"Not like—*sigh*—you know what? Nevermind, at least now I know not to try Eye Magic on you."

"I'm not prepared for any of this." I say simply. "I couldn't receive my baptism at the temple and now two monster girls are in my house."

Alice directed her gaze to me and… smirked? "Oh, did Ilias not show up at the temple? Such a shame~. I never got to thank her for my surprise trip to that forest."

"Wait… w-what do you mean by that?" I asked calmly, although Blueberry's question was a bit more… blunt.

"Allie, did a goddess punch you?"

The lamia promptly remained silent.

"...did you punch her back? I bet you gave her a bloody nose."

"Blueberry!" I yelled indignantly while Alice smiled at her. "You shouldn't wish harm upon the goddess!"

"I'm not, but she had to have been giving her a fair fight, if she was fighting seriously, we would've never met Allie, she'd just be some dust in the wind."

"...I suppose that's true…" I say and then freeze with Alice as I find we both said it at the same time.

The strange moment was stomped down by Alice returning to a mellowed, uninterested expression. "Food." she stated.

"Huh?"

"Make me some food, I can't keep chewing on slime all the time. No matter how good it is, I'm a Travelling Gourmet, I want some variety."

"I… fine, but I don't really have much, I had planned to use my Hero Discount to get enough to make something for Blueberry, but since that plan failed all I have is… this." I then produced a bundle of Dried Meat.

"...Dried Meat." Alice said coldly, Blueberry had a different reaction.

"Ooh! Jerky!" she exclaimed, snatching one of the strips and chewing on it, her noises of appreciation were both warming… yet also unfortunately quite erotic. The fact that instead of biting pieces off, she was licking, gently chewing, and suckling on the whole thing, did not help my mental image.

Monster from another world or no it is still a monster and I should not be thinking about how hot she looks sucking meat—AGH! NO! BAD THOUGHTS! DOWN!

Alice, curious at Blueberry's reaction, decided to snatch the rest of the bundle and bite into it, humming in surprise and gentle delight. "Hmm, not as bad as I thought, the seasoning and the spices are very nice."

"Jerky is always good! Not very nutritious, but still very tasty!" the slime praised.

"Thanks, I've been teaching myself how to cook in preparation for my long journey. I had only planned for it to be passable for whenever I needed to set up camp." my shoulders slumped. "But I guess it doesn't matter anyway, since I missed my chance to become a hero."

"Well, I'm not as hungry as before, so I can be satisfied with the appetiser." she then smirked at me. "I guess the main dish won't be necessary."

Eh? Main di—

"Oh, you mean where you said you planned to suck his balls dry?" Blueberry revealed far more bluntly.

"Eek!" and immediately any safety I had around the lamia fizzled away as I kept my distance.

Said lamia growled and smacked the slime. "Don't just tell him! It's no fun if you just spell out everything."

I managed to soon relax once more. "So… why else are you here? Are you going to make fun of me for failing to be a hero?"

Alice seemed to look away for a moment, then returned her attention to me. "Maybe what I said was too much earlier… you just sounded so childish, I couldn't help my—*squish*—AGH! Get your finger out of there!"

What she happened to be referring to was how Blueberry's arm had turned very sticky and goopy, and had lunged to insert the slime's finger right into Alice's ear as she took on a disappointed face. "Allie, that's not how you talk to people, what did you promise Blueberry you'd do?"

"Alright! Just knock it off!" the lamia yelled, and thankfully Blueberry relented. The next moment her piercing golden inhuman eyes focused on me, sending a strangely pleasant shiver up my spine. "... *sigh* I'm… sssss… sssss—"

Seeing she was struggling, and getting her intent, I decide to intervene. "Alice, you don't need to apologise if you don't want to, I've already for—"

"NO!" she hissed out, causing my to snap my jaw shut. "You think I'm incapable of something as simple as this?! No, you are going to stand there and wait until I've finished my apology, got it?!"

I nodded quickly, trying not to whimper as she continued. "Luka, I am sssssssSORRY! Your idealistic view of humans and monsters coexisting is not stupid… it is certainly childish and naive, but not idiotic. It's a good thing to want to strive for a better world, but it's unrealistic to believe it will just be as easy as 'beating up all the bad guys' to achieve it."

"...oh… apology accepted?"

She huffed, then glanced to Blueberry. "Do I need to apologise for that now?"

The slime shook her head. "Nuh uh. You could've said it nicer, but what you said is true."

I blinked. "Huh? I don't understand, I thought you said coexistence was nice!"

"I did… but it's like Blueberry hear back home, the things worth fighting for are never easy." she said with a nod. "But it gets easier when people fight for it with you, and that's why Blueberry and Allie are coming with you!"

"E-eh?! But my baptism, I didn't—"

"Luky! You want to be a Hero, right? Does a Hero give up at the first obstacle? Does he stop fighting for the goddess because he missed receiving a blessing? No! He takes the challenge head on and becomes even greater! So Luky won't be 'official' Hero… he'll be the BEST Hero!"

I mean… I planned to go out and defeat the monster lord anyway, but it's nice to know someone has so much faith in me.

"Why are you trying to drag me into your little party? I didn't agree to that." Alice said.

"Oh, sorry!" Blueberry said. "Allie, would you like to join in on our journey across the world like you were planning on yourself, or would you rather go on all alone without any friends or Blueberry to nibble on."

Ouch!

Alice seemed to wince before scowling at the, relatively, little slime girl. "...fine, I was interested in the two of you anyway, so I'll come along… but we're not friends!"

"Mmmhmmmmmm~…" Alice's glare only seemed to intensify as Blueberry started to give off a smug aura, her face bearing a victorious smile.

I decided to defuse the situation by changing the subject. "Well, I'll be happy for you to join me… although would you mind leaving out the back door? The villagers have been frightened enough as it is. We'll meet outside the village later, okay?"

"Okay Luky!"

"That's fine, it'd be annoying to cause a commotion anyway."

I watched the two leave my home, and then looked upon it. This place, where I grew up with my mother, a precious part of me would always be here when I leave. For what may be the last time, I looked upon my mother's keepsake with a gentle smile. "Goodbye mother, I'm off to begin my journey…

I feel it at least won't be boring."